Asynchronous, networked publication and collaborative communication system

• US 20030149725A1
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AutoData Solutions Inc.
• Original Assignee: Unity Works! LLC
• Inventors: Worthen, Bill C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,346,656 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Asynchronous, networked publication and collaborative communication system and method comprise a secure website managed by one organization to which authorized members of a team can connect using an Internet browser program. News content is developed on the website using selected webpage templates, which news content is then published to pre-established end points sponsored by another organization and broadcast to selected persons. Alternatively the news content can be developed within the sponsoring organization when at least one authorized member is not affiliated with the sponsoring organization. Preferably, at least one is connected to a database to archive news content.

Claims

1. A system for member initiated, asynchronous publication and collaborative communication using the Internet, the system comprising:

a team having a plurality of members from a plurality of organizations;

a website sponsored by at least one of the organizations, wherein the website is operatively connected to the Internet and has at least one end point dedicated to at least one non-vocational interest of the team; and

a publishing interface and toolkit operatively connected to the Internet and having at least one pre-established link to the at least one website end point, wherein the interface and toolkit has at least one webpage template constructed and configured for use by at least one team member belonging to a non-sponsoring organization, to develop news content about the at least one non-vocational interest, and wherein the news content is selectively downloaded to the at least one website end point via the at least one pre-established link and selectively broadcast to selected team members.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one end point is selected from a group of end points consisting of a location on a company website, a location on an employee portal, and a location on a nonprofit organization website.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a relational database operatively connected to the interface and toolkit, whereby news content that is published or broadcasted is selectively saved in the database.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the news content has a format selected from a group of formats consisting of text-only, text with photo, video, audio, slide viewer, and any combination thereof.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein news content in slide viewer format includes at least one video stream.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein news content is in the slide viewer format and includes a plurality of slides and the slide viewer format simultaneously displays the slides in a series of side-by-side, window-in-window frames.

7. The system of claim 1, further including a managing editor tool, which tool can be used by a managing editor to edit news content before being published and broadcast and to selectively approve publication and broadcasting of selective news content.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein email addresses of selected team members are assembled under a group name to which to selectively broadcast news content.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the publishing interface and toolkit are managed by a non-sponsoring and non-affiliated nonprofit organization.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a relational database operatively connected to the interface and toolkit, whereby news content that is published or broadcasted is selectively saved in the database.

11. A system for member initiated, asynchronous publication and collaborative communication using the Internet, the system comprising:

a team having a plurality of members from a plurality of organizations including at least one nonprofit organization;

a news content website sponsored by at least one of the organizations, wherein the news content website is operatively connected to the Internet and has at least one end point dedicated to at least one non-vocational interest of the team; and

a secure applications website operatively connected to the Internet and managed by a non-sponsoring and non-affiliated nonprofit organization, wherein the applications website has a publishing interface and toolkit including at least one pre-established link to the at least one news content website end point and at least one webpage template constructed and configured for use by team members to develop news content about the at least one non-vocational interest, wherein only selected team members have access to the applications website, and wherein the news content is selectively downloaded to the at least one news content website end point via the at least one pre-established link and selectively broadcast to selected team members.

13. A system for member initiated, asynchronous publication and collaborative communication using the Internet, the system comprising:

a team having a plurality of members from a plurality of organizations;

a news content website sponsored by at least one of the organizations, wherein the news content website is operatively connected to the Internet and has at least one end point dedicated to at least one non-vocational interest of the team; and

a secure applications website operatively connected to the Internet and managed by a non-sponsoring and non-affiliated organization, having a publishing interface and toolkit including at least one pre-established link to the at least one news content end point and at least one webpage template constructed and configured for use by team members to develop news content about the at least one non-vocational interest, wherein only selected team members have access to the applications website, and wherein the news content is selectively downloaded to the at least one news content website end point via the at least one pre-established link and selectively broadcast to selected team members; and

a relational database operatively connected to the interface and toolkit, whereby news content that is published or broadcasted is selectively saved in the database.

14. A system for member initiated, asynchronous publication and collaborative communication using the Internet, the system comprising:

a team having a plurality of members from a plurality of organizations;

a news content viewing means operatively connected to the Internet and dedicated to at least one non-vocational interest of the team; and

a publishing means to develop news content about the at least one non-vocational interest, wherein the news content is selectively downloaded to the news content viewing means.

15. A method for member initiated, asynchronous publication and collaborative communication among a team of members using the Internet, the method comprising:

(a) forming a team having a plurality of members from a plurality of organizations;

(b) providing a news content website sponsored by at least one of the organizations, wherein the news content website is operatively connected to the Internet and has at least one end point dedicated to at least one non-vocational interest of the team;

(c) providing a secure applications program website managed by a non-sponsoring and non-affiliated nonprofit organization, and having a publishing interface and toolkit including at least one pre-established link to the at least one website end point and at least one webpage template constructed and configured for use by team members to develop news content about the at least one non-vocational interest;

(d) providing access to the applications program website only to selected team members;

(e) accessing the applications program website using an Internet browser software program;

(f) developing news content about the at least one non-vocational interest on the at least one webpage template;

(g) selectively downloading the news content selectively to the at least one news content website end point via the at least one pre-established link; and

(h) selectively broadcasting the news content to selected team members.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of developing news content includes creating a new story and working on a story previously started.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of developing news content includes selecting a format from a group of formats consisting of text-only, text with photo, video, audio, slide viewer, and any combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein news content in slide viewer format includes at least one video stream.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one end point is selected from a group of end points consisting of a location on a company website, a location on an employee portal, and a location on a nonprofit organization website.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the nonprofit website location is operatively connected to a database to archive the news content downloaded thereon.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein a member is from an unaffiliated nonprofit organization, an end point is a location on a company website, and the member is authorized to publish to the end point on the company website.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein a member is from an unaffiliated nonprofit organization, an end point is a location on an employee portal, and the member is authorized to publish to the end point on the employee portal.

23. The method of claim 15, further including the step of using a managing editor tool to enable a managing editor to edit news content before being published and broadcast and to selectively approve publication and broadcasting of news content.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein email addresses of selected team members are assembled under a group name to which to selectively broadcast news content.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein a member can search the applications website for a team using a name or team attribute.